Expert Comment
Dr David Armstrong on the 6 planet planetary parade peaking 28th February 2026
Dr. David Armstrong, Associate Professor, University of Warwick answers questions about the 6-planet planetary parade happening across the globe this week – peaking on 28th February and 1st March.
What is the planetary parade?
Dr. Armstrong: “These are events where we see a number of planets visible in the night sky at the same time. Planet parades like this one where there are 6 planets up, 4 of them bright enough to be seen with the naked eye, are relatively rare.”
How rare is it?
Dr. Armstrong: “Chances to see 4 bright planets with your own eyes occur every few years on average, so it's not once in a lifetime. Even so, the planets are best observable just after sunset, so this is one of the most convenient opportunities for several years.”
When will be the night to watch in the UK?
Dr. Armstrong: “The best date globally is February 28th, and the best in the UK March 1st. The planets will be visible for an hour or so after sunset, though some will stay up for longer. Given the weather here, it's worth taking a look any day when the sky is clear in late February to early March.”
What time of night should people start watching the skies -- and where and when will each planet appear?
Dr. Armstrong: “The best time is about half an hour after sunset. Most of the easily visible planets - Saturn, Venus, Mercury - will be near the horizon to the West, with Jupiter higher in the sky and more East.”
What will be visible with the naked eye? Will some require binoculars or a telescope?
Dr. Armstrong: “Saturn, Venus and Jupiter are very bright, and Saturn is a distinctive yellow colour. Mercury can be seen with the naked eye but will be close to the horizon and can be tricky to spot. It will be a similar height and just to the right of Venus. Neptune and Uranus require binoculars or a telescope. If you're looking for Neptune it will be very close to Saturn, which can help finding it.”
Any other tips?
Dr. Armstrong: “If you have a pair of binoculars or small telescope try looking at Jupiter and Saturn and seeing if you can spot Jupiter's moons, or Saturn's rings. Four of Jupiter's moons can sometimes be seen as bright points of light near the planet.”